Abdominal body brace



P. H. RoBBlNs 2,256,410

ABDOMINAL BODY` BRACE- Filed May-29, 1940 5 sheets-sheet 1 Sept. v16, 1941.

sept; -16, 1941.

P. H..ROBB|NS ABDQMINL BODY BRACE lFiled May 29, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 www@ Sept. 16, 1941. P. H. RoBBlNs ABDOMINAL BODY BRACE Filed May 29, 1940 Sheets-Sheet 3 mgm RHRO z'n,

Patented Sept. 16, 1941 ABDO-MINAL BODY BRACE Philip Hillard Robbins, New York, N. Y., assigner to Poirette Corsets, Inc., New York, N. Y.

Application May 29, 1940, Serial No. 337,913

Claims.

This invention relates to a supporting belt or abdominal body brace, and aims to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth means acting to rmly hold and support the abdominal muscles, with the article capable of being worn by slight figures as well as large figures for relieving such ailments as the falling of the muscles of the abdomen or as a slight hernia support.

The invention further aims to provide, in a `manner as hereinafter set forth, an article of the class referred to for use by people suffering with back ailments and who need added support of the sacro-iliac ligaments.

The invention further aims to provide', in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an article of theclass referred to, which when the wearer is in a sitting position, will fold with the body and muscles, but which will always go back to its original shape when the wearer resumes a standing position; which will give needed support to the wearer in post-operative cases; which when worn will provide an aid to better posture; give a better appearance to the figure; and which when worn will give an extra pull-in support by. elastic means running from any given pointv in a diagonal manner around the body of the wearer.

'I'he invention further aims to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an article of the class referred to, for hernia cases in which a pad may be placed and carried on the inside for sacro-iliac support.

The invention further aims to provide, in a manner as hereinafter referred to, a comfortably wearable article of the class referred to for giving aid to corpulent persons participating in rather vigorous forms of exercise such as golf and tennis.

The invention further aims to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an article of the class referred to including an elastic form tting body part having elongated elastic resistance elements connected therewith for disposing in a semi-diagonal manner around the body of the wearer from any given part to provide for an extra pull-in support to materially increase the supporting or bracing function of the article when worn.

'Ihe invention further aims to provide, 1n a manner as hereinafter set forth, an article of the class referred to which is comparatively simple in its construction, form fitting, strong, durable, compact, elastic, thoroughly eflicient in its use, capable of being conveniently arranged in supa wearer, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Embodying the aims aforesaid and others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novelconstruction, ,combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein are shown embodiments of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an article or garment in accordance with this invention,

Figure 2 is a rear elevation thereof,

Figure 3 is an elevation looking towards the inner face of the body part-of the article when such part is split through one point thereof and extended, y

Figure 4 is a vertical section on line 4--4 Figure 2, through the back of the article or garment,

Figure 5 is a horizontal section on line 5-5 Figure 2, through the back of the article or garment,

Figure 6 is a horizontal section on line 6 6 Figure 1,

Figure 7 is a vertical section on line 1 1 Figure 1,

Figure 8 is a fragmentary View in rear elevation of still another modified form of an article or garment, in accordance with this invention,

Figure 9 is a section on line lI-II Figure 10,

Figures 10, 1l and 12 are fragmentary views in Vertical section of still further modified forms of an article or garment in accordance with this invention, y

Figure 13 is a fragmentary View in front elevation and broken away of an artic-le or garment, in accordance with this invention, of a two-ply body type,

Figure 14 is a section on line 15-16 Figure 13, and

Figure 15 is a fragmentary view in vertical section of a modification of a two-ply body type article or garment in accordance with this invention.

A supporting belt or abdominal body brace, in. accordance with this invention, lwill be hereinafter referred to as a bracing belt With reference to Figures 1 to '7, the bracing belt, generally indicated at lll, includes a girdleporting or bracing position relative to-the body of`55` like body part I I formed of an endless elastic fabric member I 2 having a front portion I3, a pair of side portions I4, I and a back portion I6. The lower portion of the member I2 is reinforced throughout by a binder I'I which is arranged against the lower marginal portions of said member and overlaps the lower edge of the latter.

The front portion I3 of member I2 is of greater width than the portions I4, I5 and I6. The portions I4, I5 gradually decrease in width from the sides of the front portions I3 to their Vertical centers and gradually increase in width from their vertical centers to their points of mergence with the back portion I6. The latter gradually increases in width from its points of mergence with the portions I4, I5 to its vertical center. The portion I3 extends below the portions l4, I5 and I6. The manner of setting up the member I2 as aforesaid in connection with the binder II forms the bottom edge of the body part` II with a horizontal bottom edge part I8, a pair of oppositely extending upwardly and outwardly directed curved bottom edge parts I9, 29 and a pair of oppositely extending downwardly inclined arcuate bottom edge parts 2i, 22. The part I3 is arranged at the bottom of front portion I3 between and merges into the lower ends ol the parts I9, 29. The parts ISVZII are arranged at the front part of the bottom of the portions I4, I5 and the parts 2l, 22 are arranged at the rear parts of the bottom of portions I4, I5 and at the bottom of the back portion I6. The upper ends or the parts 19,26 merge into the upper ends of the parts 2|, 22. The parts 2l, 22 merge into each other at their lower ends. The shape of the bottom edge of the member I2,

when reinforced by the binder Il, will be asv shown by Figure 3. The elastic binder I'I has its lengthwise edges secured to the member I2 by zig-zag stitching 23. Y

Arranged against and secured to the inner face of member I2 is a series of endless elastic fabric resistance elements of strap or tape like form. The elements are disposed in superposed relation and have their lengthwise edges secured to member I2 by Zig-Zag stitching. The number of the resistance elements for member I2 may be as desired and preferably will consist of four and are designated 24, 25, 215 and 2l. The Zigzag stitchings or securing said elements to member I2 are indicated at 26. The element 24 has its top edge flush with the top edge of member I2. The member 2'I has its bottom edge arranged above and in proximity to the binder Il. The width of the spaces between the portions of said'elements which are arranged at the said front portion I3 are greater than the spaces between the portions of said elements which are arranged at the said side portions I4, I5 and the said back portion I6.

The element 25 consists oi a pair of oppositely disposed downwardly inclined parts 29, 36 and a pair of oppositely disposed downwardly inclined parts 3l, 32. The parts 29, 39 merge into each other at their lower ends. The parts 3l, 32 merge into each other at their lower ends. The upper ends of the parts 29, 3l merge into each other. The upper ends of the parts 39, 32 merge into each other. The element 26 consists of a pair ofV oppositely disposed downwardly inclined parts 33, 34 and a pair of oppositely disposed parts 35, 36. The parts 33, 34 merge into each other at their lower ends. The parts 35, 36 merge into each other at their lower ends. The upper ends of the parts 33, 35 merge into each other. The upper ends of the parts 34, 36 merge into each other. The element 2l Consists of a pair of oppositely disposed downwardly inclined parts 3l, 38 and a pair of' oppositely disposed downwardly inclined parts 39, 49. The parts 3l, 39 merge into each other at their lower ends. The parts 39, 49 merge into each other at their lower ends. The upper ends of the parts 31, 39 merge into each other. The upper ends of the parts 33, 4D merge into each other. The inclination of the parts 29, 33 of element 25 is less than the inclination of the parts 33, 34 of the element 29. The inclination of the parts of the element 26 is less than the inclination of the parts 3l, 38 of the element 2?. rEhe inclination of the parts 3|, 32 of element 25 is less than the inclination of the parts 35, 33 of the element 26. The inclination of the parts 35, 36 of the element 36 is less than the inclination of the parts 39, 4I) of the element 21.

The parts 29, 39, 33, 34 and 3l, 38 of said elements are arranged at the portions I3, I4 and I5 oi said member I2. The parts 3i, 32, 35, 36,

Iii of said elements are arranged at the portions !4, I5, I6 of said member I2. The said parts 33, 34 are spaced a greater distance from the said parts 3l, 38 than the said parts 33, 34 are spaced from the said parts 29, 39. The said parts 29 to iii?, both inclusive, are disposed semidiagonal with respect to the inner face of the said member I2. The points of mergence between the said parts 29, 3|, said parts 33, 35'and said parts 3l, 39 are disposed in alignment. The points of mergence between the said parts 30, the said parts 34, 36 and the said parts 38, are arranged in alignment, and the points of 1.ergence between the said parts 3l, 32, said parts 35, 35 and said parts 39, 40 are disposed in alignment. The element 24 is what may be termed straight and is not formed with inclined parts.

Secured to rear face of the elements 24, 25, 22, 2l and to the inner face of the member I2, as well as overlapping the points of mergence between the said parts 29, 3l, said parts 33, 35 and said parts 3l, 39 is an encased flexible stay member 4I which extends from the top to the bottom edges of body part Il and it is also secured to binder I'I. Secured to the rear faces oi theelements 24, 25, 25, 21 and overlapping the points of mergence between the parts 30, 32, said parts 34, 35 and said parts 38, 49 is an encased iiexible stay member 42, which extends from the top to the bottom edges of body part II and it is also secured to stay member I'I. The stay members 4I, 42 are secured in position by stitching.

Arranged in spaced relation with respect to opposite sides of the points of mergence between the said parts 3l, 32, said parts 35, 36 and the said parts 39, 49 are encased flexible stay members 43, 44 which extend from the top to the bottom edges of body part Il. The stay members 43, 44 are secured to the resistance elements, the member I2 and the binder -I'I by stitching. The stay members 43, 44 are of greater length than the stay members 4I, 42.

There is disposed between and spaced equally from the stay members 4I, 42, a pair of spaced parallel short encased flexible stay members 45, 46 arranged against the elements 24, 25 and 26. The lower end of members 45, 46 are positioned on the element 26. VThe upper end of the members 45, 46 is flush with the top edge of body part I I. .The members 45, 46 are secured to ele- 'assaut 'ment24, 25, 26 and to the Vmember Il by stitchmgs. Y

` There is correlated with the bodyl part I l a suspensory 41 including a pouch 48 and a pair of elastic coupling straps 4 9 secured at one end to Vthe back wall 50 of the pouch 48. The `front wall 5| of pouch 48 is slitted and the upper end of wall 5I is provided with a plurality of spaced female fastener se'ctions 52. The binder I1 at its front has attached thereto a plurality of spaced male fastener sections 53 for correlation with the sections 52 for Vdetachably connecting the -pOuch 48 in suspended relation with respect tothe front of the body part `l I. The other end of each of the straps 49 has attached thereto a female fastener section `54. The body part il at the lower portion of its rear is provided with a pair of spaced male fastener sections 55 for coaction with the male fastener sections 54 to detachably connect the straps 48 to the Yback of body -part Vi l.

With respect to the modified forms of abdominal body braces, in accordance with this invention and as shown by Figures 8 to 15, they will have the stay elements 4|, 42, 43, 44, 45 and 48 form parts thereof and which will be arranged relative to the body part of such modified forms in the manner as they are arranged with respect to the body part Il. The body part of each of the modified forms shown by Figures 8 to 15 will be of a contour corresponding to that of body part Il. The body part of each of the modified forms as shown by Figures 8 to 15 will have correlated therewith a suspensory corresponding in structure to the suspensory, which will be connected thereto and arranged relative therewith in the same manner as suspensory 51 is disposed relative to body part Il. Each of the modified forms, as shown by Figures 8 to 15, will include the same number of elongated elastic resistance elements disposed relative to its body part in the same manner as the elastic resistance elements 24, 25, 26, 21 are disposed relative to the body part Il. The elastic resistance elements employed in each of the modified forms as shown by Figures 8 to 15 will correspond in contour to that 'of the elastic resistance elements 24, 25, 26, 21.

With reference to Figures 8 and 9, the abdominal body brace is generally indicated at 84 and includes an elastic fabric body part 85 having arranged against its inner face a series of spaced superposed elastic resistance elements 88 (only two shown) each formed of an endless rubber strip having its lengthwise edges secured to body part 65 by zig-zag stitching 61.

With reference to Figure 10, the abdominal body brace is generally indicated at 89 and it includes an elastic endless body part 18 of sheet rubber having vulcanized to its inner face a series of superposed elastic resistance elements 1l (only two shown) each formed of an endless rubber strip.

The form of abdominal body brace shown by Figure 11 is generally indicated at 12, and it includes an elastic fabric body part 13 having vulcanized or cemented to the inner face a series from rubber.

s elements 11 .(only twofshown) fof lastig *fab Themoded form shown' by YFigures 13l an@ 14 has 'the article "generally indicated at 18farlfd it'includes a body part 15 consistingof outer and inner like elastic endless sections 30,81 respectively .formed from sheeti'rubber. 'The-said'sections are suitably connected together kand have interposed therebetween and connected to their inner' faces a series of superposed endless resistance elements 82 (only two shown) of elastic fabric. The elements 82 'may be vulcanized or cemented tothe `inner faces of sections 8, 8l.V As to the form shown by' Figure 15 and generallyindicated at 83, it Vconsists of abody part A84 lformed of outer and inner endless elastic sections 85, 86 constructed from sheet rubber. `Interposed between and vulcanized to the inner face of the section is a series of vsuperposed endless elastic resistance elements 81 formed The Asections 85, 88 are to be suitably secured together. l

The elastic resistance elements shown by 'Figures 8 to 15 are of strap or tape-like form and function for the same purpose as the elastic resistance elements shown by Figures 1 to 7.

Otherwise than that as stated relative to the modified forms shown by Figures 8 to 15, such forms will be of the same construction as the form shown by Figure 1.

What I claim is:

1. A bracing belt for the purpose set forth cornprising an elastic endless form fitting element for encompassing the body of the wearer and including a front, back and sides, superposed spaced endless elastic resistance elements of strap-like form disposed circumferentially of and secured to said form fitting element, each of the lower ones of the said resistance elements being formed with a front pair of oppositely extending downwardly inclined parts merging at their lower ends into each other at the vertical median of said front, and each of the said lower ones of the said resistance elements being formed with a rear pair of oppositely extending downwardly inclined parts merging at their lower ends into each other at the vertical median of the back.

2. A bracing belt for the purpose set forth comprising an elastic endless form fitting element for encompassing the Ibody of the wearer, and superposed elastic endless resistance elements secured to one face of said form fitting element, the upper one of said resistance elements being arranged on the upper marginal portion of said face, the other ones of the said resistance elements having oppositely extending downwardly inclined parts disposed diagonally with respect to the front and back of said form fitting element.

3. A bracing belt for the purposeset forth including an endless elastic form fitting element for encompassing the body of the wearer having top and bottom edges, a front, a back and a pair of sides, an elastic endless binder overlapping said bottom edge and secured to said element, an upper elastic endless resistancermember of band-like form secured to the inner face of andv stay means and secured to said element and certain of said members, each of said lower members being formed with parts disposed in diagonal relation with respect to the front of said element and other parts disposed in diagonal relation with respect to said back.

4. A bracing belt for the purpose set forth including an endless elastic form fitting element for encompassing the body of the wearer having top and bottom edges, a front, a back and a pair of sides, an elastic endless binder overlapping said bottom edge and secured to said element, an upper elastic endless resistance member of band-like form secured to, ush with the top edge of and disposed circumferentially of said element, a plurality of endless lower elastic superposed resistance members of band-like form secured to said element circumferentially thereof below the said upper member and disposed in spaced relation with respect to each other and to said upper member, the lower one of said lower members being positioned above said binder,

spaced flexible upstanding stay means secured to said members and element, each of said lower members being formed with parts disposed in diagonal relation with respect to the front of said element and other parts disposed in vdiagonal relation with respect to said back, said front being of greater width than and having its lower portion disposed in depending relation With respect to said sides and back.

5. In an abdominal body brace, an endless elastic body part, superposed spaced elastic resistance elements connected to and providing said body part with circumferentially disposed spaced resistance Zones, said elements being endless, spaced pairs of spaced aligned parallel vertically disposed stay means secured to said body part and to all of said elements, and a pair of spaced aligned parallel vertically disposed stay means arranged between and spaced from said pairs of stay means and secured to said body part and to certain of said elements.

PHILIP H. lROBBINS. 

